Call: Eurostars CoD 11 call of the Horizon Europe Framework Program H2020, sponsored by CDTI in the international inter-company call

Tratamientos superficiales Elhco - Electroless Hard Coat
Tratamientos superficiales Elhco - Electroless Hard Coat
Tratamientos superficiales Elhco - Electroless Hard Coat
  • Starting date: 1st November 2019
  • Finishing date: 30th April 2022
  • Members: ELHCO (SPA, Project leader company), Chemplate (SPA), Smallmatek (POR) and with the collaboration of Fundación CIDETEC (SPA).

SUMMARY

Due to the application of the European REACH regulation which regulates the use of certain chemical substances, including the use of hexavalent chrome, the industrial need to find a real and environmentally friendly alternative to hexavalent hard chrome plating is essential.
The present project bets on 2 different ways to find a solution to the emerging problem. On the one hand, a multilayer chemical nickel plating strategy using a formulation that results in a nickel-phosphorus chemical coating with low phosphorus content is proposed; due to its high hardness, and the ability to increase it with subsequent heat treatment.

On the other hand, the second way that is presented is the application of this same multilayer strategy by applying SiC or PTFE nanoparticles in the formulation of the nickel-phosphorus bath so that these co-deposit in the nickel-phosphorus matrix to provide extra properties to those of the same coating, such as hardness or a low coefficient of friction (lubrication), which are highly requested properties and that the current hexavalent hard chrome coating meets.

The viability of both strategies will be studied and the comparative of their properties against those of the commercial products that incorporate microscopic PTFE particles (not nanoparticles), and those provided by hexavalent hard chrome coatings will be performed, taking into account the requirements the main OEMs and Tier1 of the aeronautical and automotive industry.

Once the results of the projects will be obtained, the last part of the project will consist on preparing the certification and validation of the new processes for the aeronautical and automotive industries.

To do so, we have created this consortium of 3 SME companies, where each one of them is a specialist in its field.

Due to the application of the European REACH regulation which regulates the use of certain chemical substances, including the use of hexavalent chrome, the industrial need to find a real and environmentally friendly alternative to hexavalent hard chrome plating is essential.
The present project bets on 2 different ways to find a solution to the emerging problem. On the one hand, a multilayer chemical nickel plating strategy using a formulation that results in a nickel-phosphorus chemical coating with low phosphorus content is proposed; due to its high hardness, and the ability to increase it with subsequent heat treatment.

On the other hand, the second way that is presented is the application of this same multilayer strategy by applying SiC or PTFE nanoparticles in the formulation of the nickel-phosphorus bath so that these co-deposit in the nickel-phosphorus matrix to provide extra properties to those of the same coating, such as hardness or a low coefficient of friction (lubrication), which are highly requested properties and that the current hexavalent hard chrome coating meets.

The viability of both strategies will be studied and the comparative of their properties against those of the commercial products that incorporate microscopic PTFE particles (not nanoparticles), and those provided by hexavalent hard chrome coatings will be performed, taking into account the requirements the main OEMs and Tier1 of the aeronautical and automotive industry.

Once the results of the projects will be obtained, the last part of the project will consist on preparing the certification and validation of the new processes for the aeronautical and automotive industries.

To do so, we have created this consortium of 3 SME companies, where each one of them is a specialist in its field.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

The general objective of the project is the development and validation of a process without REACH impact to obtain chemical nickel multilayer coatings (Ni-P) as an alternative to Cr (VI) coatings, which are commonly used in both aeronautics and automotive industry.

The specific objectives of the project are listed below:

  • Development of a suitable pre-treatment for the target substrates identified in each of the selected applications. This pre-treatment also includes interlayer activation to ensure maximum adhesion of the final multilayer assembly.

  • Development of a chemical nickel formulation with a low phosphorous content capable of providing the required mechanical properties and allowing the incorporation of nanoadditives as PTFE and SiC nanoparticles in the same solution for their co-deposition in the metal matrix, thus maximizing the mechanical performance and corrosion resistance of Ni-P multilayer coatings.
  • Application of the developed coatings on real parts for each of the selected industries. In case of the aeronautics industry, the piece would be a hook of the main rotor whilst for the automotive industry; the new plating will be applied on cylinder rods or actuators.
  • The scaling up of the chemical products production necessary for the formulation of the necessary pre-treatments for the developed process, as well as the chemical nickel plating baths and the nanoadditives that will be incorporated in them in order to improve the performance of the coatings.
  • Definition of the certification strategy to be carried out for the new Ni-P multilayer process as an alternative to hexavalent hard chrome plating. Since the requirements of the 2 selected use cases are different, the definition of the certification strategy will be carried out individually for each of them.

If you are interested in this alternative, please contact us

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